Annunciator for telephone-exchanges.



No. 659,269. Patented oct. 9, |900. B. wALLEn. ANNUNCIATUR FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

(Appumudn med Dee. 2o,l 1897.

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Patentedy Oct. 9, |900.

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B. WALLER.

ANNUNCIATDR FOR TELEP'HUNE EXCHANGES.

(Application led Dec. 20, 1897.) (No Model.)

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ANNUNCIATOR FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.

(A'pplicationlad Dec. 20, 1897.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE?.

BENJAMIN WALLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ANNUNCIATOR FOR TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 659,269, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed December V20, 1897. Serial No. 662.547. \No model.)

To all whom) it may concern.- A

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN WALLER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Annunciators for Telephone-Exchanges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In connecting telephone-exchanges located in the same city or district great promptness is necessary, and in many cases the trunklines are equipped with what are termed supervisory signals.

. be operated upon the same electrical circuits which are used for telephoning, but it is always at a loss of the telephoning-current. Therefore an additional wire for each circuit has sometimes been used for signals alone.

The object of my invention is to provide a visible signaling system by which a number of signals, called drops, annunciator-S, and targets, may loe actuated through a single wire or circuit, thus reducing the number of wires needed. It is also an object to provide signals or annunciators which may be actuated by a pulsating orl intermittent current of electricity and which, being actuated by a momentary impulse of electricity, will remain visible for a time, before the eX- piration of which they are again actuated, so that their apparent display is that of a permanent signal.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing synchronous switches employed in connection with my invention. Fig. 2 is a modified construction of the same, showing two rotating switches with the contacts arranged in a circle. Fig. 3 is a view showing an annunciator as used in Fig. 1 in detail and means for operating the same through an electrical current; and Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of the same, Fig. 4 showing a disk having an aperture in its face, through which the signal is displayed when the same is revolved, and Fig. 5 a similar signal actuated by the electromagnet 38.

In the said drawings, referring now to Fig. l, the numerals 1 and 2 designate two electrical switches connected by an electrical conduc- These signals may.

vtor 3 and constructed to vibrate in unison or synchronously. These switches form no part of my invention and may be constructed under the Delaney telegraph system or any other found convenient or suitable, so long as they vibrate synchronously. The numerals 4 and 5 designate adjustable electrical contacts connected by wires 6 and 7 with the keys or circuit-closers 8 and 9, connected by wire 10 with battery 12. These circuit-closers are located at what may be termed the transmitting-station. The numerals 13 and 14 designate adjustable electrical contacts similar to contacts 4 and 5 and are connected by wires 15 and 16 with annunciators 17 and 18, which in turn are connected by wires 19 and 20 with the return-wire or earth connection 21. These annunciators are located at the receiving-station. By closing contact 8 the .current from battery 12 actuates switches 1 and 2 and, through wire 16, the signal 18. On the same principle the signal 17 may be actuated by closing con-tact 9.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification of the above construction, two synchronous rotating switches being employed instead of the vibrating switches shown in Fig. 1. The contacts 22, with which the switches 23 are adapted to contact, are arranged in a circle. The switches 23 are actuated by the electrical conductor 23. There is also a return-wire or earth connection expressed by the line 24'. The battery 12 is connected with the contacts of the keys 12', only one of which is shown in full. 22 represents the signaling appliances at the receivingstation, only one being shown in the drawings. The switches of course revolve in unison and are consequently always on corresponding contacts.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the numeral 24 designates an electrical motor connected with wires 10 and 20, leading to a source of current. The armature of the motor is provided with an outwardly-extending shaft 25, provided at the outer end with a sleeve 26, to which are pivoted links 27, also pivoted to elbow-levers 28, provided with weights 29 at the free ends. These levers are pivoted to a fixed collar 30 on said shaft. The numeral 3l designates a suspended pivoted rod having a small circular plate 32 at the lower end, which rod is adapted to be moved outward by said sleeve ICO through key 9.

as the motor rotates and uncover an opening 33 in a plate '34.

Referring now to Figs. l and 3, the operation is as follows: The operator at the transmitting-station will depress the key 8, when the current from the battery will be conducted through annunciator 18 for a portion of the time during each vibration of the switches. Assuming that the vibrations are in unison or synchronized, the annunciator will receive the current only when key 8 is closed and through no other way. The current will now rotate the armature 24', when the weights 29 will be thrown outward by centrifugal force, and through the medium of the levers and links the sleeve 26 will press against the rod 31, forcing the plate 32 away from the opening 33 in plate 34 and displaying a signal. The cont-act of the switch 2 and its contact-piece will be but momentary, so that the current will be cut oi almost immediately; but the momentum Ot' the armature of the motor will keep the signal displayed un til the switch again contacts with its contact-piece, when the operation will be repeated. This will be kept up until the operator at the transmitting station cuts out the current. In like manner annunciator 17 can be Operated Of course the signals used may be any of the frms shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

In the switch shown in Fig. 2 the operation will be the same, except that the switch will rotate instead of vibrate.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the motor-shaft is provided with a disk 35, which is visible through an aperture 36 in a plate 37. This disk is formed with a number' of marks which are visible when at rest; but when the disk is rotated by the motor, as before set forth, these markings apparently disappear by the rapid revolution of said disk.

-In Fig. 5 the signal is displayed by means of an electromagnet 3S, provided with a pivoted armature 39. Secured to said armature is a rod 40, having a disk 41 at the upper end adapted to cover and uncover an aperture in a plate 42. This armature is provided with a spring 43, connected with an adj usting-screw 44. Secured to the rod 40 is an arm 45, having a notch 46 in its outer end which engages with a pivoted ratchet wheel 47, provided with vanes 48. When the electromagnet is energized by depressing a key, as above set forth, the armature is actuated through the rod 40 and its disk forced away from the opening, displaying a signal. When thecurrent is cut Off, spring 43 will tend to return the armature and the rod and disk to normal position; but the movement being retarded by the vanes, ratchet, and arm before such position is reached another impulse is given to the electromagnet, again actuating the armature, rod, and disk. 'lhis operation will be kept up until the operator at the transmitting-station cuts out the current.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of synchronous switches, of contacts for the same, circuit closers, annunciators, and means for holding said annunciators temporarily exposed when actuated by an intermittent electrical current, all substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of switches, of contacts for the same, a conductor connecting the switches, wires leading to the contacts, cireuit-closers connected with said wires, a battery, annuncia-tors at the receiving-station, and means for holding said annunciators temporarily exposed when actuated by an intermittent electrical current.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMINl VVALLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. POWELL, WALTER C. ROBINSON. 

